As cases increase across the country, and as multiple teams deal this summer with clusters of cases that have left prominent coaches and players out of action, the NFL proposes increasing COVID-19 testing for vaccinated athletes.
According to Larry Ferazani, the NFL general counsel, testing for players who have been vaccinated should be done once every seven days instead of once every fourteen days. This was stated Thursday during a media briefing. The league will continue testing players who have not been fully vaccinated daily. The NFL Players Association must approve the proposal. They have been advocating for daily testing of all players, vaccinated or not.
Ferazani stated that the decision was based on Ferazani's best efforts to provide safe conditions for players.
The NFLPA did not accept the proposal in a statement to ESPN. With what we know about the Delta version and what we've seen with clubs, it is obvious that testing must be a more central point.
According to Dr. Allen Sills, almost 93% of NFL players were at least partially vaccinated as of Thursday. Since the beginning of training camp, nearly all staff members have been vaccinated.
The league had 68 positive results between Aug. 1 through Aug. 21 among its players and staff, who were using 7,190 tests. According to league data, seven times as many players who were not vaccinated have been positive than those who have been vaccinated. Some teams have had multiple positive results at the same time. This includes the Tennessee Titans who currently lack coach Mike Vrabel, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Sills stated that none of these instances were considered "outbreaks" as there was no evidence to suggest an "ongoing spread within the club."
Sills did not identify the cluster but 38% of unvaccinated team members were infected. If they spread the virus to their teammates, or family members, one argument for increased testing of vaccinated athletes is that they should be tested more often. Sills was asked if this has occurred and why he suggested more testing. Sills acknowledged that there have been "small clusters" of positive cases in the league, but it is not clear who spread it.
The NFLPA's demand to test every player daily is rooted within the protocols for 2020, which were established before vaccines became available. Sills stated that the testing did not prevent last season's outbreaks and that other mitigation strategies, such as masking and avoiding meals and in-person meetings, proved to be more effective.
Sills stated that people tend to be focused on safety and that testing is not preventive. "Testing does not prevent anyone from spreading the virus. While it is an important part of our mitigation strategy, it is not the only part. ... Although testing is a useful and beneficial tool, we make sure to use it intelligently and in a targeted manner. We also test the most vulnerable people and that is what we will continue to recommend. It's not the testing that will help us get through this surge, or to ensure our season's future.
This report was contributed by Dan Graziano, ESPN.
